Improvement in stove-pipe coupling and brace



"W. E. HOPMAN. Stove-Pipe Coupling and Brace'.

" y' BY ggg@ ATTORNEYS.

NPETERS. PHOTQLTHDGRAPHIR, wAtHlNGTON. D C.

angular grooves b b.

of pipe is then tted into the first, the button UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIoE.

WILLIAM E. HOFMAN, OF FOR'I OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOVE-Pl PE COUPLING AND BRACE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,852, dated June 24,1879; application filed March 18, 1879.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HOFMAN, of Fort Omaha, in the county ofDouglas and State of Nebraska, have invented anew and ImprovedStove-Pipe Coupling and Brace, of which the following is aspecification.

Figure lis a sectional elevation of coupling and brace and stove-pipe online as a', Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of stove-pipe withcoupling and brace attached. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on line y y ofFig. 1. Fig. .tis a crosssection of brace and button. Fig. 5 is a planview ot the braces and coupling, showing then] detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for holding firmlytogether the joints of a stove-pipe.

The invention consists of a strip of sheet iron or other metal, aboutone anda half to two and a half inches wide, with both edges turned upand bent over toward each other, thus forming the brace A, whose oneside or face is dat, with slightly-rounded edges, and whose reversepresents a central longitudinal slot, a', extending throughout itslength, resulting from the near approach to each other ofthe edges ofthe plate, while the bending over of the edges creates the twonearlytri- The coupling B is a shorter strip of the same metalfashioned` in the saine manner as the brace, and 011e end is to beinserted a little way into one end of each brace and be riveted thereto.v

The invention further consists of a metal button, G, with concave face,one of which is to be riveted on each section of pipe about four inchesfrom its larger end on the seam or in line with the rivets, so that thebrace and coupling may cover the seam.

When it is desired to apply the device the open end ot a brace, A, ispressed over the button O on one section of pipeD. Another section onthis second section entering the free end of the coupling that has beenriveted to the first brace; then another brace and coupling may beconnected with the first, and, in turn, another section of pipe added,and in this manner braces and couplings and pipe-sec tions may be addeduntil the required length of pipe is had.

The coupling B should always be at about the center of the length of thepipe-section, and this may be secured by making them and the braces of avariety of lengths to suit different lengths of sections. v

If a brace or coupling slide too loosely on a button, the latter maybewidened by pressing down its edges. If the fit be too tight, the edgesmay be pressed upward.

This device is simple and ot' easy application. It will hide the seamand line of rivets on the pipe. It will hold the sections of pipe firmlytogether, and thereby decrease the chances of accidental lires. It actsas a brace, whether the pipe be in a vertical or horizontal position, sothat no vibration. or jarring will cause the pipe to uncouple. Where itis applied it will not be necessary to resort to the usual method ofsecuring stove-pipes by wires and braces to walls and ceilings to givethem stability; nor will it be important that the sections t veryclosely.

The above are some of the advantages attending the use of this device.

I am aware that the sections of a pipe have been held in sockets formedby an inner and outer pipe.

I am also aware that the sections of a pipe have been held rigid incast-iron couplings by screw-rods which pass through the perforated earsof the said couplings; and I am also aware that the sections have beenheld adjustably on cach other by a slotted bar attached to one sectionand a thumb-screw on the other section; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The within-described device, consisting of the brace A, coupling B,and button C, for holding together sections of stove-pipe.

2. In combination with a stove-pipe section, D, the brace A, coupling B,and button C, substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM EDWIN HOFMAN.

Witnesses W. L. CARPENTER, OEARLEs PAGE.'

